IBM buys e-discovery vendor PSS

IDG News Service - IBM said Wednesday it is purchasing e-discovery vendor PSS Systems, in a move that further broadens Big Blue's sprawling portfolio of information management software. Terms were not disclosed.

PSS' software enables companies to keep track of documents they may be legally required to maintain, as well as set policies that get the job done efficiently while meeting regulatory obligations.

IBM plans to sell PSS Systems' products along with its own Information Lifecycle Governance applications for document archiving, classification, e-discovery and other areas. PSS Systems' customers include BASF, Pfizer and BP.

The deal follows IBM's announcement last month that it would purchase GRC (governance, risk and compliance) vendor OpenPages.

It also continues IBM's Information on Demand strategy of the past several years, which focuses on data management, delivery and analysis products and services, rather than attempting to compete head-on with the ERP (enterprise resource planning) applications sold by the likes of Oracle and SAP.

IBM will no doubt make more news later this month during the Information on Demand conference in Las Vegas.

Chris Kanaracus covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Chris's e-mail address is Chris_Kanaracus@idg.com